Collapsible ladder



March 20, 1962 Filed Jan. 30, 1961 H. BURNSTEIN COLLAPSIBLE LADDER j* ?-J L 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HARRY BURNSTEIN ATTORNEYS March 20, 1962 H. BURNSTEIN 3,025,923

COLLAPSIBLE LADDER Filed Jan. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS 3,0253% Patented Mar. 20, 1962 3,025,923 COLLAPSIBLE LADDER Harry Burnstein, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Edward Mirman, Akron, Ohio Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 85,624 2 Claims. ((31. 182-96) This invention relates to collapsible ladders of the type that are attached to the sides of buildings and serve as fire escapes.

In general the present invention relates to improvements in ladders of the type that include spaced side members that are joined by vertically spaced rung. The ends of the rungs are pivotally attached to the side members whereby the ladders can be selectively disposed in a folded configuration, wherein the side member lie along side of each other, or in an open operative configuration wherein the side members are spaced from one another and the rungs are extended horizontally.

In accordance with the present invention, the ladder construction includes a novel actuating means for retaining the ladder in a folded configuration and for releasing the ladder to an operated configuration. The actuating means is provided with a handle portion located at the top of the ladder adjacent the sill of a window whereby a person escaping from the window can manipulate the actuating means and quickly unfold the ladder.

As another aspect of the present invention, the ladder construction is provided with means for forcing the side members apart in the event they become frozen together when icing conditions prevail.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing the ladder of the present invention disposed in folded configuration;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing the ladder of the present invention disposed in an open operative configuration; and

FIGS. 3 through 5 are partial broken elevational views of the ladder of the preceding figures which views illustrate an actuating means comprising a portion of the ladder construction.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a ladder constructed in accordance with the present invention that includes side members and 12 that are joined together by a plurality of vertically spaced rungs, some of which are seen at 14-20.

Side members It) and 12 are preferably formed from metal channel stock of U-shaped cross section and include transverse pivot pins 22 that form the pivotal connections between the ends of the rungs and the side members.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, left side member 10 is attached to a building wall 24 by a plurality of vertically spaced brackets 26.

The ladder construction further includes an actuating means indicated generally at 30 which comprises movable member 32 mounted on one of the side members 10 and an actuator 34 having its lower end connected to movable member 32 at a pivot 36 and its upper end provided with a handle portion 38.

Referring next to FIGS. 35, movable member 32 of actuating means 30 is preferably in the form of a pivoted lever provided with a first latch portion 40 formed by an open ended slot that detatchably engages a second latch portion which may be provided by one of the rung pivot pins 22 as illustrated or which may be provided by a separate member.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3-5, movable memher 32 is pivotally attached to side member 10 at a pivot pin 42 and includes an end that extends through a slot 44 provided in the outer web of U-shaped side member 10.

A wire tortion spring 46 is wrapped around pin 42 and includes a U-shaped portion 48 that overlies the top of movable member 32 and serves to bias said member towards the latched and folded configuration of FIG. 3.

Movable member 32 further includes a cam surface 50 that is movable into force transmitting relationship with a shoulder 52 formed by a confronting side of latch element 22.

In operation, when handle 38, FIGS. l and 2, of actuator 34 is pushed downwardly, latch element 40 moves away from latched engagement with latch element 22 and cam 50 moves into force transmitting engagement with shoulder 52 on latch element 22 whereby side member 12 is forced away from folded engagement with side member 10. In the event the two side members are frozen together, the ice is readily cracked upon striking a downwardly directed blow on handle 38 when serves to cam the two latch members apart with the mechanical advantage provided by pivoted lever 32.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A collapsible ladder comprising, in combination, a left side member; a right side member; a plurality of vertically spaced rung members including left ends pivotally connected to said left side member and right ends pivota-lly connected to said right side member, said side members being extendable from a folded position wherein said rung members extend vertically to a spaced position wherein said rung members extend horizontally; lever means generally rectilinear in configuration extending through one of said side members and beyond on either side thereof in normally transverse relationship to the long axis of said side member, said lever means pivoted intermediate its ends on one of said members, the end of said lever means extending beyond said side member in the direction of the other side member having a latch portion for engaging a latch receiving portion carried by the other of said side members in releasably latching relationship, said latch portion including a downwardly facing hook portion normally in engagement with the upper surface of said latch receiving portion, and an up wardly and inwardly inclined cam surface disposed below said hook portion and in force transmitting engagement with the latch receiving portion of the other of said side members for separating the side members upon pivotal movement of said lever means, the other end of said lever means extending beyond said side member in the opposite direction having actuating receiving means, and vertically actuating rod means associated with said side members to which said lever means is pivoted in spaced parallel relationship therewith, said rod means being connected at one end to said actuating receiving means of said lever means to pivot said lever means.

2. A collapsible ladder comprising, in combination, a left side member; a right side member; a plurality of vertically spaced rung members including left ends pivotally connected to said left side member and right ends pivotally connected to said right side member, said side members being extendable from a folded position wherein said rung members extend vertically to a spaced position wherein said rung members extend horizontally; lever means generally rectilinear in configuration extending through one of said side members and beyond on either side thereof in normally transverse relationship to the long axis of said side member, said lever means pivoted intermediate its ends on one of said members, the end of said lever means extending beyond said side member in the direction of the other side member having a latch portion for engaging a rung member carried by the other of said side members in releasably latching relationship, said latch portion including a downwardly facing hook portion normally in engagement with the upper surface of said rung member, and an upwardly and inwardly inclined cam surface disposed below said hook portion and in force transmitting engagement with said rung member of the other of said side members for separating the side members upon pivotal movement of said lever means, spring means between said lever means and the side member to which it is mounted to bias said side member toward the closed position, the other end of said lever means extending beyond said side member in the opposite 15 direction having actuating receiving means, and vertically actuating rod means associated with said side members to which said lever means is pivoted in spaced parallel relationship therewith, said rod means being connected at one end to said actuating receiving means of said lever means to pivot said lever means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 278,301 Welsh May 22, 1883 1,488,624 Sperl Apr. 1, 1924 2,957,539 Padlo Oct. 25, 1960 2,962,113 Heimlicher Nov. 29, 1960 

